ENGLAND'S inconsistent fielding display enabled Zimbabwe to reach a competitive total in today's opening one-day international at the Harare Sports Club....

ENGLAND'S inconsistent fielding display enabled Zimbabwe to reach a competitive total in today's opening one-day international at the Harare Sports Club.

After England captain Nasser Hussain lost his 17th toss in 19 international matches, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 206 with five balls remaining after deciding to bat - a more than adequate total on a slow pitch not suited to fast scoring.

But the tourists' inexperienced side, which included four debutants at this level, missed their chances to limit their opponents to a far more manageable total after dropping catches and losing concentration in the field at crucial times.

Three catches were dropped and they missed a glaring opportunity to run out key man Andy Flower, currently rated as the world's number one Test batsman, when he was stranded mid-way down the wicket.

The most glaring miss was from Essex wicketkeeper James Foster, who marked his one-day international debut by missing a straightforward catch in embarrassing fashion.

Dion Ebrahim had made only two with Zimbabwe on 131 for five after Foster had helped remove both Flower brothers three overs earlier from Jeremy Snape with a pair of stumpings.

Another wicket seemed certain when Ebrahim slogged high in the air expecting Foster to collect a simple catch at the wicket, but instead he failed to pick up the ball's trajectory and ended up in a despairing dive to his right as it thudded back to earth.

The miss was costly with 21-year-old Ebrahim progressing to a determined 42 and sharing in a 42-run partnership with Dirk Viljoen spanning eight overs which enabled Zimbabwe to add a crucial 51 runs in the final 9.1 overs.

Marcus Trescothick had set the tone for England's fielding display by spilling a regulation slip catch in the fourth over of the day from James Kirtley after Alistair Campbell edged trying to cut.

Matthew Hoggard shrugged off the early setback to remove both openers during a lively seven over spell, but Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle seized on England's uncertainty after the end of the fielding restrictions to add 77 in 15 overs.

So desperate were England to stem the run flow they made four bowling changes in five overs, with 39 runs coming during that period and the crucial miss of Andy Flower.

Pushing to point after making 41, Flower set off for a quick single and Ben Hollioake swooped and threw at the non-striker's end with Zimbabwe's former captain stranded - only to miss the target.

Flower was finally out for a spirited 59 from 78 balls, deceived by the turn as he advanced down the pitch to Snape, giving Foster his first one-day international stumping.

His second followed two balls later when Grant Flower attempted the same shot, only for Foster to fumble as he collected the ball and only just removed the bails before the Zimbabwean regained his ground.

England would have been firmly in control had Foster been more alert just three overs later, but missed Ebrahim and two balls later Clive Wishart was dropped by Nick Knight running along the mid-wicket boundary.

Ebrahim was finally out when England called upon the occasional off-spin of Mark Ramprakash, who struck second ball when the Zimbabwe batsman advanced down the pitch and picked out Snape at long on.

But the extra 40 runs he added after being given his reprieve by Foster gave England a far tougher total to chase as they attempt to end their run of 11 successive defeats.